Fluid-modified mounting



Jan. 15, 1952 L. F. THIRY FLUID-MODIFIED MOUNTING 5 n Hmz w mm 1x31 ET V [Q 4 m n T uM/ F 2 F e L. al JJ 4 F J 5 W l 4 Imm/@55510 ATTORNEYS Jan. 15, 1952 L. F. 'rl-MRY FLUID-MODIFIED MOUNTING 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Original Filed Dec` 13, 1944 {IIL JNVENTOR. Leon F. Thiryr Va/afk ATTORNL? Patented Jan. l5, 1952 FLUID-MODIFIED MOUNTING Leon F. Thiry, Montclair, N. J., assigner to The General Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application December 13, 1944, Serial No.

568,04l. Divided and this application March 26, 1947, Serial No. 737,295

11 Claims.

l This application is a division of my copending application VSerial No. 568,041, now Patent 2,421,585, June 3, 1947, filed December 13, 1944. The invention relates to vibration-insulating and 2 ing description oi the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view with parts broken away of a mounting embodying the presabsorbing mountings. .Tt particularly relates to n ent invention and showing portions of the sul)u vibration-absorbing mountings which may readporting and supported members attached thereily be made with independent characteristics for to; each degree of freedom. Fig. 2 is an elevational view with portions It is well known, that for greatest vibration inbroken away. of a modiiied form of mounting emsulation. the softest suspension or the use of le bodying the present invention and provided with mountings having the greatest deflection for unit self-contained fluid damping; increase in load should be used. In commercial Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line t--t of Fig. 2; applications the maximum desirable deflection Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view through is usually relatively limited and to sustain the a portion oi another modified iorm of mounting; weight of the mounted members it is the general l5 and practice to utilize mountings having a higher Fig. 5 is a longitudinal view, partly in section spring constant than is most desirable for vibraand with portions broken away, of another modiytion-insulating purposes. A particularly advanfied form of mounting embodying the present tageous vibration-absorbing mounting is described invention, which mounting is adapted to faciliin the Thiry Patent i,782,770. Such mountings, titi tate relative movement between the mounted and utilizing rubber under a relatively high state of mounting members in all directions. radial compression between rigid coaxial mem- In accordance with the present invention i acbers, have especially desirable characteristics and complish the above objects by fluid coupling of are also advantageous in that they utilize a relasubstantially independent mountings so that in tively small amount of rubber for a given cate response to the main static load they act as pacity. However, as in other mountings utilizing mountings arranged in parallel but in response rubber, if there is suicient stiffness to sustain to variable radial loads only one of the mounthigh loads in axial direction with but relatively ings may operate independently. The mountings small deflections, the rigidity or stiffness in dicomprise essentially a housing portion which may rections perpendicular is also greatly increased t@ be connected to one of two relatively mOi/able so that the capacity to absorb vibrations in a members such as a foundation or mounting memdiderent direction is materially reduced. ber and which encloses a fluid-containing cavity, It is therefore an object of the present invena load-supporting resilient member or diaphragm tion to provide vibration-insulating mountings in in contact with said fluid and adapted t cause which the spring constant; in radial directions may t displacement thereof when the resilient material be made of any desired value without affecting is deiiected, a rigid movable member carried by the spring constant or load-supporting ability in the resilient member which ls also preferably the axial directions of axial members. adapted to contact said uid and which may be It is another object of the invention to provide connected to a mounted member such as an enmountings having a. rubber-like material under a 4@ eine or other machine, etc.. and e Huid passagestate of stress between coaxial members. and hav- Way, preferably a restricted orifice or tube for ing spring constants (deection per unit of load) uid cavities 0f the mounting.

which may be made substantially independent for Referring more Particularly t0 the drawings. axial and radial directions, in which like parts are designated by like nu- It is another object of the present invention to merels 0f reference throughout the several views, provide a vibration-absorbing mounting embodymountings embodying the present inventivn 60ming self-contained duid damping means to abprise et least one Outer rigid housing member i sorb vibrational energy and to prevent undue amwhich is annular or preferably 0f generally tilbuplitude of vibration under conditions of reso- 1211 Shape 0r has portions la and lb with generalu nance. ly cylindrical inner walls, and a plurality of fluid- It is a further object of the present invention Coupled inner rigid sDaCed members 0r portions to provide a vibration-absorbing mounting in 2a, 2b. etc.` thereof, each preferably having e Subwhich the iiuid damping may be adjusted while Stantially Cylindrical DOIOII Which may be C0- the mounting is in use. axial with respective inner cylindrical surfaces It is a, still further object of the present inven- 3a, 3b, etc. of the outer rigid housing member l. tion to provide a vibration-absorbing mounting The inner rigid members 2a and 2b are carried having self-contained uid damping, which may by the respective annular resilient members 4a. be automatically maintained at correct adjust- 4b, etc. in coaxial or substantially concentric rement at varioustemperatures. lation `within the housing member I.

Other objects will be apparent in the follow- The fluid-containing cavity or space deilned by ateases portions of the housing l, the spaced annular members la and tb of resilient material, and the inner rigid coaxial members 2a and 2b, is preferably substantially or completely filled with relatively incompressible fluid 5. The uid 5 being between the members 2a and 2b serves as coupling means to transmit axial deflections from the member 2a to the member 2b so that in response to deections axially of the member 2a, member 2b is also deflected. For deflections the stress required for given distortion to resilient members da and Lib in the completed mounting is equal to the sum of the stresses required for the identical distortion of the two separate members. It is thus seen that the mounting acts in response to deflections in an axial direction as though it were composed of two mountings, disposed in parallel relationship. Since the members 2a and 3b are not rigidly connected and since some air .is usually present in the fluidcontaining cavity deection of the member 2b therefore lags that of 2a. For small vibrational deflections in an axial direction, the mounting is relatively soft and therefore gives superior vibration insulating characteristics. For heavier vibrations the mounting is relatively stiffer and therefore tends to more eiectively limit the extent o the deflection.

As to transverse or radial vibrations between the mounted member il and the mounting member or base l, the spring constant is determined solely by the characteristics of the resilient membei la and the mounting has substantially the same characteristics in regard to radial movements as though resilient member ib and the inner rigid member 2b were omitted. It is seentherefore that by varying the sizes of the resilient members 4a and db, one can readily obtain desirable characteristics for transverse vibrations without permitting undesirable deflections in iongitudinal or axial directions because of the initial load. Thus, by making member da in the completed mounting of larger outer diameter or shorter height while simultaneously making the annular resilient member b of smaller diameter or greater height, greater radial deection and greater insulation to transverse vibrations may be obtained without materially changing or decreasing the axial deflections. To further change the load deiiection characteristics of the mounting, the inner rigid member 2a may be provided with a cam portion 8 adjacent the free surface 9 of the resilient material 4a. so that ior great deflections the effective thickness of the resilient material la is decreased and stiffening effect obtained. A supporting portion I0 with or without a. camportion 8a extending inwardly from the surface of the housing may also be disposed adjacent the opposite free surface of theannular resilient member la to decrease any tendency to relative slippage between the outer housing member I and resilient member at extreme loadings or in addition to change the deflection characteristics by means of the cam. Similarly the inner rigid member 2b "may be provided with a cam portion Il and a diagonally disposed cam or supporting portion I2 which together serve as means for decreasing the ease of deection in the region of high deflections.

A bumper of resilient material I3, preferably annular in shape, may be disposed between rigid bumper supporting means such as a washer I4, rigidly carried by the inner member 2b andthe edge portion of the housing I to decrease by the uid coupling action between the portions 2a and 2b the maximum deflections in directions opposite to those controlled by cams B and ii. The inner member 2a may be provided with a passageway or chamber IE which may be formed by suitable boring thereof and which may be provided with a removable plug iti threaded into the restricted ller portion lli. Gasket sealing means i8 may be provided for effecting a fluidtight seal between the head of the plug EG and the member 2a. Removable plug le and passageways l5 and [It serve as closable means for filling the space between the members la and db with uid E.

Since there is sometimes a tendency for loss of fluid i5 and since there is sometimes a permanent set within the resilient material la and db, it is frequently desirable to provide means such as the plug 2@ for varying the pressure on the contained uid 5 to serve as a simple creep adjustment. A sealing gasket 2l may be provided between the plug 2@ and the lock nut 22 to prevent escape of iiuid 5.

The resilient materials may be any soit vulcanized compounded rubberlike material including rubber, rubbery polymers or copolymers of suitable polymerizable material, such for example as polymers of dienes having conjugated double bonds, including chloroprene, butadiene, isoprene, and homologues and analogues of these materials, copolymers of one or more such dienes with one or more copolymerizable unsaturated materials, including oleiins such as isobutylene and other unsaturated copolymerizable materials including vinyl halides, styrene, halo-styrenes, acrylic and alpha-alkyl substituted acrylic acids, esters and nitriles thereof and vinyl ketones, vinyl pyridine, etc., as well as natural rubbers. Rubbery condensation polymers such as the condensation products of chloro-substituted aliphatic compounds. such for example as ethylene dichloride with an alkaline polysuliide, and the rubbery condensation products of dibasic acids such as sebacic acid with dihydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol and the like may also be used for certain applications. Rubbery copolymers of a suitable cross-linking agent and polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate and/or polyvinylidene chloride, etc. may also be used. It is desirable that sucient cross-linking compounds be present in all cases for vulcanization.

The term "resilient material as used herein is therefore seen to be used in a generic sense to include any vulcanizable material having physical properties similar to a soft vulcanized or vulcanizable rubber compound.

hi the modication of Fig. 2, rigid separating means such as a rigid diaphragm 25 is provided between at least two successive housing portions and between two successive annular resilient members 4a and 4b for separating the space between such members into two fluid-containing chambers. A passageway such as the restricted orice or tube 26 through the diaphragm 25 is provided between the chambers adjacent opposite sides of the diaphragm 25. Means such as the plug 21 which has an opening 28 therethrough adapted to connect with the passageway and which is journaled within thev housing i, or the diaphragm, 25 thereof, is provided for adjusting the size of the connecting orice or passageway 26 to vary the energy absorption had byfluid damping.

Thermostatic means such as the bimetallic spiral 30, which is connected on the one end by the pin 3| to the orifice regulating means 2l and on the opposite end by the pin 32 to the indicating head 33, may be provided for automatically and thermostatically regulating the size of the passageway 26 to compensate for effects of temperature on the viscosity of the fluid 5. By loosening the lock nut 34 which bears against the resilient gasket 35 the head 33 is' made free to turn. Initial adjustment of the orifice-regulating means may be readily had by simply turning the indicating head 33.

When in order to provide fluid damping a restricted passageway is provided between the separated chambers, it is highly desirable to provide a surge chamber which may contain compressible gas to permit flowr of fluid 5 therein in response to sudden shock. Thus, a separate chamber may be provided or preferably a portion of the counterbore l5 may contain air or compressible gas 40, which in response to sudden shock is readily compressed to permit flexing of the resilient member da prior to the passage of appreciable amounts of fluid through the passageway 26.

In the modification of Fig. 4, the thermostatic orifice-regulating means of Figs. 2 and 3 is substituted by the set screw 3l, which is threaded into the wall 33 of the housing l and which is adapted to protrude into the orifice or connecting passageway 2t any desired amount. Means such as a check valve having a lapper 5t, adapted to cover ports 5l through the rigid diaphragm 2b may be provided for permitting greater ease of flow of fluid from out of one portion of the cavity than from the other. Thus, the apper, which may be loosely carried on the stem 52 riveted to the diaphragm 25, by closing the ports 5i may cause substantially all of the fluid to pass through the restricted passageway 26 when the inner member is deilected in one direction (downwardly in the drawing) relative to the outer member, whereas the inner member moves in opposite direction relative to the outer member, the flapper, by raising from the seat and subsequent opening of the ports 5l, permits more rapid return of damping uid. It is thus seen that the check valve operates as further means for permitting a higher rate of deiiection per unit of load in one direction than in the other and it thus serves as means for further preventing resonance of the system.

By varying the size of the orifice either by initial drilling or by adjusting the position of the orifice-regulating means, it will be seen that substantial variations in fluid-damping of a mounting member may be obtained. Since in the mounting shown the damping of the mounting 'member may be readily regulated under vibrating conditions as well as under static con-- ditions, it is seen that the most apt setting for vibration insulating efficiency may be readily obtained.

By regulating the size and stiffness of the two annular resilient compressible members 4a and 4b, and by also/adjusting the fluid damping, it is readily seen that vibrations in all directions may be reduced to a very substantial degree.

' While I have shown the two fluid-containing compartments arranged adjacent to each other to permit the use of a short passageway or orifice 26, it is obvious that substantially the same result may be obtained when the parallel mountings and compartments therein are spaced at much greater distances s that the passageway 26 is relatively long, say a tube of any length.

In the modification illustrated by Fig. 5 of the drawing, an additional resilient mounting unit,

indicated generally by C, is disposed between the mounting member 1 and the mounted member 6. The housing I is therefore resiliently carried relative to both the mounted member 6 and the mounting member 1. The mounting member and the mounted member are thus connected in series through two resilient mounting units, generally designated as A and C, respectively, and there is formed a resilient connection which permits relative oscillatory movement of the mounted and mounting members in lateral as well as vertical directions.

The additional mounting unit comprises a portion 2c of the inner rigid member, which is preferably coaxial with the portion Ic of the housing and carried thereby through the annular resilient member 6c. The member 4c is preferably under radial compression between the inner surface of the housing and the outer cylindrical surface of the portion 2c of the inner member. The member fle is in fluid-tight relation with both the housing and the portion 2c of the inner rigid member, which portion is in alignment with portion 2a of the unit A and spaced therefrom by relatively incompressible fluid 5. By adjusting the thermostatic means for varying the size of the passageway between the portions of the cavity containing the relatively incompressible uid as well as by varying the size of the mounting unit B, the characteinu istics of the mounting may be altered. By ad-- justing the initial pressure on the inflation iiuid, for example by changing the setting of the plug 23, the initial deflection of the mounting may be changed in a desirable manner.

It is also apparent that many modifications of the invention may be made without changing the spirit thereof, and it is intended that the invention be limited only by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A vibration-absorbing mounting for ab-n sorbing vibration between two relatively movable elements comprising a housing for connection to one of said relatively movable elements and having two axially spaced, generally tubular portions, an annular resilient member within each of said housing portions and carried in fluid-tight relation with the walls thereof, a rigid inner member carried by each of said resilient members and being movable with respect to said housing by distortion of said resilient member, said inner members being spaced apart and movable relative tol each other and at least one having a portion for connection to another of said relatively movable elements, said housing, said inner members and said resilient members defining a cavity adapted to receive and retain fluid under pressure, incompressible fluid in said cavity, rigid means for dividing said cavity into two portions, and a restricted passageway to permit passage of said fluid between said portions, whereby upon axial deiiection of one of said inner members relative to said housing axial deflection of one of the other of said inner members occurs through action of said fluid, and iiuiddamping of vibrations is had by passage of fluid through said restricted passageway.

v2. A vibration-absorbing mounting for ab sorbing vibration between two relatively movable elements comprising a housing for connection to one of said relatively movable elements and having two axially spaced, generally tubular portions, an annular resilient member within each of said housing portions and carried in fluid-tight relation with the walls thereof, a rigid inner member carried by each of said resilient members and being movable with respect to said housing by distortion of said resilient member, said inner members being spaced apart and movable relative to each other and at least one having a portion for making connection to another of said relatively movable elements, said housing, said inner members and said resilient members defining aI cavity adapted to receive and retain fluid under pressure, incompressible fluid in said cavity, a rigid diaphragm for dividing said cavity into two portions, and a restricted passageway to permit passage of said uid between said portions, whereby upon axial deflection of one of said inner members relative to said housing axial deflection of one of the other of said inner members occurs through action of said iiuid, and fluid-damping of vibrations is had by passage of fluid through said restricted passageway.

3. A vibration-absorbing mounting for absorbing vibrations between two relatively movable elements comprising a housing for connection to one of said relatively movable elements and having two spaced, generally tubular portions, an annular resilient member with each of said housing portions and carried in fluid-tight relation with the walls thereof, a rigid inner member carried by each of said resilient members and being movable with respect to said housing by distortion of said resilient member, said inner members being spaced apart and movable relative to each other and at least one having a. portion for making connection to another of said relatively movable elements, said housing, said inner members and said resilient members dening a cavity adapted to receive and retain iiuid under pressure, incompresible iiuid in said cavity, rigid means for dividing said cavity into two portions, a restricted passageway to permit passage of said iluid between said portions, and means for adjusting the size of a portion of said passageway to vary the restriction to the passage of :duid therethrough, whereby upon axial deection of one of said inner members relative to said housing axial deflection of one of the other of said inner members occurs through action of said fluid, and fluid-damping of vibrations is had by passage of uid through said restricted passageway.

4. A vibration-absorbing mounting for absorbing vibration between two relatively movable elements comprising a housing having a portion for making connection to one of said relatively movable elements and having two axially spaced, generally tubular portions, an annular resilient member within each of said housing portions and carried in uid-tight relation with the walls thereof, a rigid inner member carried by each of said resilient members and being movable with respect to said housing by distortion of said resilient member, said inner members being spaced apart and at least one having a portion for making connection to another of said relatively movable elements, said housing, said inner members and said resilient members dening a cavity adapted to receive and retain iiuid under pressure, incompressible uid 1n said cavity, rigid means for dividing said cavity into two portions, a restricted passageway to permit passage of said fluid between said portions, and thermostatic means for varying the size of said passageway to vary the restriction of the passage of iiuid therethrough to compensate for effects of temperature whereby upon axial 8 deflection of one of said inner members relative to said housing axial deflection of one of the other of said inner members occurs through action of said uid, and fluid-damping of vibratio-ns is had by passage of iiuid through said restricted passageway.

5. A vibration-absorbing mounting for absorbing vibration between two relatively movable elements comprising a housing having a portion for connection to one of said relatively movable elements and having two axially spaced, generally tubular portions, an annular resilient member within each of said housing portions and carried in fluid-tight relation with the walls thereof, a rigid inner member carried by each of said resilient members and being movable with respect to said housing by distortion of said resilient member, said inner members being spaced apart and at least one having a portion for connection to another of said relatively movable elements, said housing, said inner members and said resilient members dening a cavity adapted to receive and retain fluid under pressure, incompressible uid in said cavity, rigid means for dividing said cavity into two portions, a restricted passageway to permit passage of said fluid between said portions, thermostatic means for varying the size of portions of said passageway to vary the restriction of the passage of fluid therethrough in response to temperature changes, and means for adjusting the setting of said thermostatic means while said mounting is in use whereby upon axial deflection of one o said inner members relative to said housing axial deiiection of one of the other of said inner members occurs through action of said fluid, and duid-damping of vibrations is had by passage of fluid through said restricted passageway.

6. A vibration-absorbing mounting for absorbing vibration between two relatively movable elements comprising a housing having a portion for connection to one of said relatively movable elements and having two axially spaced, generally tubular portions, an annular resilient member within each of said housing portions and carried in iiuid-tight relation with the walls thereof, a rigid inner member carried by each of said resilient members and being movable with respect to said housing by distortion of said resilient member, said inner members being spaced apart and movable relative to each other and at least one having a portion for connection to another of said relatively movable elements, said housing, said inner members and said resilient members defining a cavity adapted to receive and retain iiuid under pressure, liquid in said cavity, a closable passageway through portions of at least one of said inner members for lling said cavity with liquid, and means for adjusting the pressure on said liquid while said mounting is in use, whereby upon axial deflection of one of said inner members relative to said housing, deflection of the other of said inner members occurs through action of said fluid.

7. A vibration-absorbing mounting for absorbing vibration between two relatively movable elements comprising a housing having a portion for connection to one of said relatively movable elements and having two spaced, generally tubular portions, an annular resilient member within each of said housing portions and carried in fluidtight relation with the Walls thereof, a rigid inner member carried by each of said resilient members and being movable with respect to said housing by distortion of said resilient member,

said inner members being spaced apart and movable relative to each other and at least one having a portion for connection to another of said relatively movable elements, said housing, said inner members and said resilient members delining a cavity adapted to receive and retain fluid under pressure, means for dividing said cavity into two portions, a restricted passageway between said portions, and compressible fluid and incompressible fluid in said cavity, whereby upon axial deflection of one of said inner members relative to said housing, deflection of the other of said inner members occurs through action of said fluids.

8. A vibration-absorbing mounting for absorbing vibrations between two relatively movable elements comprising a housing having a portion for connection to one of said relatively movable elements and having two axially spaced, generally tubular portions, an annular resilient member within each of said housing portions and carried in fluid-tight relation with the walls thereof, a rigid inner member carried by each of said resilient members and being movable with respect to said housing by distortion of said resilient member, said inner members being spaced apart and movable relative to each other and at least one having a portion for connection to another of said relatively movable elements, said housing, said inner members and said resilient members defining a cavity adapted to receive and retain fluid under pressure, incompressible fluid in said cavity, rigid means for dividing said cavity into two portions, a passageway between said portions,

and means for adjusting the size of a portion of said passageway to vary the restriction to the passage of fluid therethrough while said mounting is in use, whereby upon axial deflection of one of said inner members relative to said housing axial deflection of one of the other of said inner members occurs through action of said fluid, and fluid-damping of vibrations is had by passage of fluid through said restricted passageway.

9. A vibration-absorbing mounting for absorbing vibration between two relatively movable elements comprising a housing having a portion for connection to one of said relatively movable elements and having two axially spaced, generally tubular portions, axially spaced and relatively movable inner members, one of said inner memi bers being substantially coaxial with each of said generally tubular housing portions, an annular resilient member between each of said inner members and the respective housing portion, each of said resilient members being in a state of radial compression between one of said inner members and a housing portion, being in fluid-tight relation with the inner wall of said housing portion and the outer walls of said inner member and carrying said inner member within said housing so that relative movement of said inner member and said housing is accomplished by distortion of said resilient material, said housing, said inner members and said resilient members defining a cavity to receive and retain substantially a compressible and an incompressible fluid within said cavity, rigid means for dividing said cavity into two portions, a restricted passageway between said portions, and means for varying the size of a, portion of said passageway to adjust fluid-damping of the movement of said inner members while said mounting is in use.

10. A vibration-absorbing mounting for absorb ing vibration between two relatively movable elements comprising a housing having a portion for connection to one of said relatively movable elements and having two spaced, generally tubular portions, an annular resilient member within each of said housing portions and carried in fluidtight relation with the walls thereof. a rigid inner member carried by each of said resilient members and being movable with respect to said housing by distortion of said resilient member, said inner members being spaced apart and movable relative to each other and at least one being adapted to be connected to another of said relatively movable elements, said housing, said inner members and said resilient members defining a cavity adapted to receive and retain fluid under pressure, incompressible fluid in said cavity, rigid means for dividing said cavity into two portions. a passageway to permit passage of said fluid between said portions, and means for providing greater ease of flow of said fluid in one direction between said portions than in the other, whereby upon axial deflection of one of said inner members relative to one of said portions of said housing, axial deflection of one of the other of said inner members occurs through action of said fluid, and fluid-damping of vibrations is had by passage of fluid through said restricted passage- Way.

ll. A vibration-absorbing mounting for absorbing vibration between two relatively movable elements comprising a housing having a portion for connection to one of said relatively movable elements and having two spaced, generally tubular portions, an annular resilient member within each of said housing portions and carried in fluid-tight relation with the Walls thereof, a rigid inner member carried by each of said resilient members and being movable with respect to said housing by distortion of said resilient member, said inner members being spaced apart and movable relative to each other and at least one having a portion for connection to another of said relatively movable elements, said housing, said inner members and said resilient members defining a cavity adapted to receive and retain fluid under pressure, incompressible fluid in said cavity, rigid means for dividing said cavity into two port ons, a passageway to permit passage of said fluid between said portions, a restricted portion in said passageway, and means for automatically vaA ying the degree of restriction thereof when the degree of deflection of said resilient member is varied, whereby upon axial deflection of one of said inner members relative to one of said portions of said housing, axial deflection of one of the other of said inner members occurs through action of said fluid, and fluid-damping of vibrations is, had by passage of fluid through said restricted passageway.

LEON F. THIRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,417,096 Thiry Mar. 11, 1947 2,421,585 Thiry June 3, 1947 

